The requirements to become a S.A.F.E. provider include: 
- A 40-hour Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner course
- Four hours shadowing law enforcement to learn the responsibilities of police officers and witness their interaction with victims
- Conducting 12 to 15 pelvic exams/clinical competence under direct supervision of a MD, NP, PA or S.A.F.E.-A to develop competency in performing speculum examinations on non-traumatized patients (women’s health practitioners with this experience may receive a competency sign-off by a MD or NP)
- Conducting three to five S.A.F.E. exams, interviews and S.A.F.E. kit completions to develop proficiency in the complete Sexual Assault Examination process. Emergency room RN’s with this experience may receive a competency sign-off by a MD or SAFE-A
- Two hours of crime lab observation to familiarize the S.A.F.E. provider with the procedures and techniques utilized to process DNA evidence
- Four hours of court room observation to observe courtroom proceedings and to familiarize S.A.F.E. with the process of trial preparation/presentation and giving testimony
If you’d like to volunteer to become a S.A.F.E. provider, contact Southern Tier Health Care System President and CEO Donna Kahm at 372-0614.
To become a S.A.F.E. provider, you must be a licensed health care practitioner as defined by the New York Department of Health. That includes medical doctors, registered nurses, licensed midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and doctors of osteopathic medicine.